Dishwasher / dryer

Abstract

To prevent steam entering an air duct 5 from a washing tank 2 in a washing process and a rinsing process from leaking out into a machine 1 through a gap between an inner surface of a connection part 51 and an outer surface of a blowout part 41 without using a packing in a dish washing / drying machine including the washing tank 2 and a blower fan 4 capable of blowing air into the washing tank 2 through the air duct 5 in the machine 1 with the air duct 5 provided with the cylindrical connection part 51 into which the cylindrical blowout part 41 of the blower fan 4 is inserted.SOLUTION: The connection part 51 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom 51b facing a tip of the blowout part 41 inserted into the connection part. A vent hole 51a of an area smaller than a blowout port 41a placed within a projection surface of the blowout port 41a open to the tip of the blowout part 41 is formed on the bottom 51b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dishwasher / dryer that includes a washing tub and a blower fan capable of blowing air into the washing tub, and has the functions of washing objects stored in the washing tub and drying the objects with air blown from the blower fan. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a type of dishwasher / dryer that has a cylindrical connection portion into which the cylindrical blowing portion of the blower fan is inserted and that is equipped with an air duct that guides air blown from an outlet opening at the tip of the blowing portion to an air intake port provided in the washing tub (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In a dishwasher, steam generated in the washing tank during the washing and rinsing processes enters the air supply duct through the air inlet. When steam enters the air supply duct, the steam leaks into the body of the dishwasher through a gap between the inner surface of the connection part of the air supply duct and the outer surface of the blowing part of the blowing fan, and may condense on functional parts inside the body. In this case, it is possible to prevent the steam from leaking into the body by inserting a packing between the inner surface of the connection part of the air supply duct and the outer surface of the blowing part of the blowing fan, but this increases the number of parts by the amount of the packing, resulting in higher costs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-58461 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher / dryer that can prevent steam from leaking into the body of the machine without using a packing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a dishwasher and dryer that has a washing tub and a blower fan capable of blowing air into the washing tub within its body, and has the functions of washing items stored in the washing tub and drying the items with air blown from the blower fan, and has a cylindrical connection part into which a cylindrical blowing part of the blower fan is inserted, and is equipped with an air duct that guides air blown from an air outlet opening at the tip of the blowing part to an air intake port provided in the washing tub, wherein the connection part is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom that faces the tip of the blowing part inserted therein, and an air vent hole with a smaller area than the blowing port that fits within the projection plane of the blowing port is formed in this bottom, and the air blown from the blowing port is guided to the air intake port through the air vent hole.

[0007] According to the present invention, since the vent has a smaller area than the outlet and fits within the projection surface of the outlet, almost all of the steam that enters the air duct and comes out of the vent flows into the air fan through the outlet and condenses inside the air fan. Therefore, even if there is a gap between the inner surface of the connection part of the air duct and the outer surface of the blowing part of the air fan, there is almost no leakage of steam into the machine body through this gap. As a result, even if a packing is not interposed between the inner surface of the connection part of the air duct and the outer surface of the blowing part of the air fan, it is possible to suppress the leakage of steam into the machine body. And since the packing is not required, the increase in cost due to the packing can be avoided.

[0008] In the present invention, it is preferable that the air outlet opens downward at the lower end, which is the tip of the air outlet portion, so that condensation water generated by condensation of steam inside the blower fan returns from the air outlet into the blower duct, thereby preventing the condensation water from accumulating inside the blower fan.

[0009] Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable to drive the blower fan during at least one of the washing process for washing the object in the washing tank and the rinsing process for rinsing the object, so that the blower fan can be driven to prevent steam from entering the blower duct, and thus the steam can be more effectively prevented from leaking into the machine body. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a cutaway side view of a dishwasher / dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The dishwasher and dryer according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1 is a built-in type that is incorporated into a system kitchen and is provided with a washing tub 2 that is stored in a body 1 with an open front and can be freely pulled out forward. Water is supplied to the washing tub 2 through a water supply hose from a water supply valve (not shown) provided in the body 1. A front cover 21 that closes the front of the body 1 is attached to the front of the washing tub 2. A seal cover 11 that closes the open top surface of the washing tub 2 is provided at the top inside the body 1.

[0012] The washing tub 2 contains a lower basket 22 and an upper basket 23 for supporting items W to be washed, such as tableware, and is also provided with a washing nozzle 24 for spraying washing water toward the baskets 22, 23. The washing nozzle 24 has a lower nozzle 241 that extends horizontally at the bottom of the washing tub 2 and is rotatable about a vertical axis at the longitudinal center, and a center nozzle 242 that is erected at the longitudinal center of the lower nozzle 241 and extends upward. Basket A nozzle guard frame 221 surrounding the center nozzle 242 is erected in the center of the cleaning unit 22 so as to prevent the object W to be cleaned placed thereon from interfering with the center nozzle 242.

[0013] A cleaning pump 3 is installed on the underside of the bottom wall of the cleaning tank 2, which communicates with a cleaning water reservoir 25 recessed in the bottom wall. When the cleaning pump 3 is rotated forward, the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 2 is supplied to the cleaning nozzle 24 via the reservoir 25 and the cleaning pump 3, and when the cleaning pump 3 is rotated reversely, the cleaning water is drained from the cleaning tank 2. A heater 26 is installed on the bottom of the cleaning tank 2 so as to be submerged below the water surface when water is supplied into the cleaning tank 2.

[0014] Further provided within the machine body 1 are a blower fan 4 attached to the rear surface of the rear wall of the cleaning tank 2, and an air duct 5 which supplies air from the blower fan 4 into the cleaning tank 2 via an air intake port 27 opened at the bottom of the rear wall of the cleaning tank 2. The air duct 5 is longitudinal in the vertical direction and has an open front. By attaching the air duct 5 to the rear surface of the rear wall of the cleaning tank 2 so that the front of the air duct 5 is closed by the rear wall, a ventilation passage 5a communicating with the air intake port 27 is defined between the air duct 5 and the rear wall. Air duct 5 At the upper end of the fan 4, a cylindrical connection part 51 is provided into which the cylindrical blowing part 41 of the blower fan 4 is inserted. The air blown from the blowing port 41a opening at the tip of the blowing part 41 is guided to the air supply port 27 through the ventilation passage 5a.

[0015] When the operation switch of the dishwasher is turned on, first, water is supplied to the washing tank 2, and detergent is mixed into this water from a detergent supply means not shown in the figure to generate washing water. Then, when the water level in the washing tank 2 reaches a predetermined level, the water supply is stopped. After that, while the washing water is heated by the heater 26, the washing pump 3 is rotated forward to spray the washing water from the washing nozzle 24, and a washing process is performed for a predetermined time to wash the object W stored in the washing tank 2. After the washing process is completed, the washing pump 3 is rotated in the reverse direction to drain the washing water in the washing tank 2. Next, after water is supplied to the washing tank 2, the washing pump 3 is rotated in the forward direction to spray water from the washing nozzle 24, and a rinsing process is performed for a predetermined time to rinse the object W. After the rinsing process is completed, the washing pump 3 is rotated in the reverse direction to drain the water in the washing tank 2, and then, while the air in the washing tank 2 is heated by the heater 26, the blower fan 4 is driven to blow air into the washing tank 2, and a drying process is performed for a predetermined time to dry the object W with the blown air.

[0016] Incidentally, in the washing and rinsing steps, steam generated in the washing tank 2 enters the air supply duct 5 through the air supply port 27, and if this steam leaks into the machine body 1 through a gap that occurs between the inner surface of the connection part 51 of the air supply duct 5 and the outer surface of the blowing part 41 of the blowing fan 4, condensation may occur on functional parts such as the water supply valve inside the machine body 1. To prevent this, it is conceivable to interpose a packing between the inner surface of the connection part 51 of the air supply duct 5 and the outer surface of the blowing part 41 of the blowing fan 4, but this would increase the number of parts and raise costs.

[0017] 2, in this embodiment, the connection portion 51 of the blower duct 5 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom 51b facing the tip of the blower portion 41 of the blower fan 4 inserted into the connection portion 51. Then, in this bottom portion 51b, an air vent 51a having a smaller area than the blower outlet 41a that fits within the projection plane of the blower outlet 41a that opens at the tip of the blower portion 41 is formed, so that the air blown from the blower outlet 41a is guided to the air supply port 27 via the air vent 51a.

[0018] In this embodiment, the vent 51a has a smaller area than the outlet 41a and fits within the projection plane of the outlet 41a, so that the steam that enters the air duct 5 and comes out of the vent 51a flows into the blower fan 4 through the outlet 41a. Therefore, even if there is a gap between the inner surface of the connection part 51 of the air duct 5 and the outer surface of the blower part 41 of the blower fan 4, the steam hardly leaks into the machine body 1 through this gap. As a result, even if a packing is not interposed between the inner surface of the connection part 51 of the air duct 5 and the outer surface of the blower part 41 of the blower fan 4, the steam can be prevented from leaking into the machine body 1. Since the packing is not required, the cost increase due to the packing can be avoided. Note that the steam that flows into the blower fan 4 condenses in the blower fan 4, but since the blower fan 4 generally has a moisture-proof internal structure, there is no problem even if the steam condenses in the blower fan 4.

[0019] In this embodiment, the air outlet 41a opens downward at the lower end, which is the tip of the blowing portion 41 of the blower fan 4. The air outlet 41a may open in a direction other than downward, for example, horizontally. However, if the air outlet 41a opens downward as in this embodiment, condensed water generated by condensation of steam in the blower fan 4 returns from the air outlet 41a into the blower duct 5, which is advantageous in that it prevents the condensed water from accumulating in the blower fan 4.

[0020] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the blower fan 4 is also driven in the cleaning process and the rinsing process. This makes it possible to suppress the intrusion of steam into the air duct 5 by driving the blower fan 4, and more effectively prevent the steam from leaking into the machine body 1. When the blower fan 4 is driven, the amount of air sent from the blower fan 4 into the cleaning tank 2 is exhausted to the outside from an exhaust port (not shown) provided in front of the cleaning tank 2. When the blower fan 4 is driven in the cleaning process and the rinsing process, steam is exhausted together with the air from the exhaust port. Therefore, in order to keep the amount of steam exhausted from the exhaust port low, it is desirable to keep the driving rotation speed of the blower fan 4 as low as possible in the cleaning process and the rinsing process.

[0021] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the above embodiment, the blower fan 4 is driven in both the washing step and the rinsing step, but the blower fan 4 may be driven in either the washing step or the rinsing step, or it is also possible not to drive the blower fan 4 in either the washing step or the rinsing step. In addition, the dishwasher / dryer in the above embodiment is a built-in type, but the present invention can also be applied to a tabletop dishwasher / dryer in which the front of the washing tub is an open surface and a front door is provided to open and close the front surface. [Explanation of symbols]

[0022] 1...machine body, 2...cleaning tank, 27...air intake port, 4...blower fan, 41...blowout section, 41a...blowout port, 5...blower duct, 51...connection section, 51a...vent, 51b...bottom of bottomed tubular connection section.

Claims

1. A dishwasher and dryer having a washing tub and a blower fan capable of blowing air into the washing tub within its body, and having the functions of washing objects stored in the washing tub and drying the objects with air blown from the blower fan, the machine has a cylindrical connection part into which a cylindrical blowing part of the blower fan is inserted, and has an air duct that guides air blown from an outlet opening at the tip of the outlet part to an air intake port provided in the washing tub, and the blowing port of the blower fan and the air intake port of the washing tub are always in communication with each other, The connection part is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom facing the tip of the blowing part inserted therein, and an air vent hole having a smaller area than the blowing port and fitting within the projection plane of the blowing port is formed in the bottom part, and the air blown from the blowing port is guided to the air intake port through the air vent hole.

2. 2. The dishwasher / dryer according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet is open downward at a lower end of the air outlet portion.

3. 3. The dishwasher / dryer according to claim 1, wherein the blower fan is driven during at least one of a washing step for washing the objects in the washing tank and a rinsing step for rinsing the objects.

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